News roundup: Seven months after election, Romney still after Obama

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Romney slams Obama ahead of Utah summit. Shurtleff, law firm part ways. Herbert opens part-time D.C. office.

Happy Monday. Mitt Romney isn't going quietly into the night. Seven months after the election, the unsuccessful presidential candidate is still taking shots at President Barack Obama, arguing that Obama didn't have any kind of first 100 day plan and that he "continues to campaign as if there is another election, and there isn't." [WSJ]

-> Romney, meanwhile, will return to Utah this week to hold a summit featuring three possible 2016 candidates as well as Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod. [DNews] [Fox13] [ParkRecord]

Topping the news: A freshman Republican senator says he'd like AG John Swallow to resign but short of that the Legislature should do its job and start impeachment proceedings. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Former Utah AG Mark Shurtleff has resigned form a D.C. law firm saying the time commitment was too much, though the firm also scrubbed its site of any mention of Shurtleff. [Trib] [DNews]

-> A state senator who ran several build-your-wealth companies gave heavily to then-AG candidate John Swallow as the industry faced more scrutiny. [Trib]

Today's news: Gov. Gary Herbert has re-opened the state's Washington office shelved by then-Gov. Jon Huntsman, though staffing it with a top aide who splits his time between D.C. and Salt Lake City. [Trib]

-> For the second year, a group of Mormons marched in the Utah Pride Parade, showing support for the LGTB community. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Some large Utah cities are contemplating switching to a full-time, strong mayor system after recent chief executives have raised concerns about time challenges. [Trib]

-> Pre-Paid Legal Services allegedly had worked on a deal to buy 100,000 copies of Shurtleff's Dred Scott book before it was published, though the offer fizzled and never happened. Shurtleff denies there was ever a deal on the table and says he got no royalties. [Trib]

-> A poll commissioned by Herbert shows him doing well among Utahns and also shows that a high number of residents believe the country is on the wrong track. [UtahPolicy]

Tweets of the day: From @mike_santora: "media covering media is like Hollywood making movies about Hollywood. It's why Holder is the top story and Argo is best picture."

And from @dcbigjohn: "If there's one thing the world can rally around, it's Germans getting beat."

Happy birthday: To The Trib's Matt Canham and USU Eastern's Greg Dart.

Opinion section: The Tribune editorial board says Rep. Jason Chaffetz plan to reform the prison system for non-violent crimes seems sensible. [Trib]

-> Editorial writer George Pyle adds on, noting that Chaffetz plays the tea party card well on TV but comes across as a wonk when sitting down with newspaper folks. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly notes how aggressive Shurtleff was in trying to tamp down critical press coverage while he was in office. [Trib]

-> Rolly also notes that Salt Lake City residents are upset about the ouster of a beloved golf pro. [Trib]

-> An emeritus professor of business and behavior identified several reasons he says people may bring loaded guns to the airport. [Trib]

-> State Sen. Todd Weiler suggest several reasons why Utah should start appointing its attorney general. [Trib]

-> Connor Boyack says neither Ogden Officer Jared Francom nor his shooter Matthew Stewart needed to die — and argues that such drug raids create danger themselves. [Trib]

-> Former U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman and attorney Paul Burke say Utah laws hurt the LGBT community from birth to death and call for an end to the shameful discrimination. [Trib]

-> A Sanpete County commissioner decries the lack of state transportation earmarks to the 28 counties not named Salt Lake. [Trib]

-> LaVarr Webb and Frank Pignanelli debate how the Swallow scandals will ultimately end. [DNews]

-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says Utah should change its primary system to having an open ballot, like California, to ensure competitive races. [DNews]

Weekend in review: The top gun-rights advocate in Utah was charged with four misdemeanors, including domestic violence, in an incident with his ex-wife. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Our D.C. Notebook looks at how Romney staffers secretly ferried binders of potential administration picks to campaign headquarters on Election Day. [Trib]

-> UTOPIA has become a drag on Orem's finances and elected leaders while Provo is selling its network. [Trib]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch says it's hard to believe that Obama wasn't aware of the IRS' targeting of tea party related groups seeking non-profit status. [Newsmax]

Nationally: Sen. John McCain says AG Eric Holder should decide soon whether he can still serve effectively as the nation's top prosecutor. [WaPost]

-> White House Senior Adviser David Plouffe says no special prosecutor is needed in the ongoing investigation into the IRS scrutiny of tea party groups. [Politico]

-> The high cost of ordinary medical procedures heavily contributes to the nation's shocking rise in health care tab. [NYTimes]

-> Ann Romney has released a family cookbook full of traditional American entrees like meatloaf and home-made ice cream. [DailyMail]

Where are they?

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker joins a conference call on community block grant funding with Newton, Mass., Mayor Setti Warren, Rep. Joseph Kennedy, and U.S. Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran, meets with S.L. Co. Mayor Ben McAdams and chats with SLC School District Superintendant McKell Withers..

WVC Mayor Mike Winder helps with Farnsworth Elementary's field day.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden host a National Conference on Mental Health at the White House.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]

— Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr